The drive from Kirkland, WA to Forks, WA covers 202.2 miles and takes about 4h 43m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East Lauridsen Boulevard, Olympic Highway, WA 16 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 55.4 miles on East Lauridsen Boulevard.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $42.32 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
101.1 miles from Kirkland, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 14m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 43m. Total distance: 202.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Kirkland, WA to Forks, WA covers 202.2 miles and takes about 4h 43m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Lauridsen Boulevard is the longest continuous segment at about 55.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 7th Avenue.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 202.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (7th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 19.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 22 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|7th Avenue
Turn left onto 7th Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
19.3 mi into trip|~26m in
Take the exit toward I 5 South: Portland
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 5 South: Portland
8
41.2 mi into trip|~54m in
Take the exit toward WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, Bremerton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 132B
Toward WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, Bremerton
7
41.8 mi into trip|~55m in
Keep slight left at fork toward WA 16 West: Union Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward WA 16 West: Union Avenue
6
93.8 mi into trip|~2h 3m in|WA 104 / Hood Canal Bridge
Turn left onto WA 104 / Hood Canal Bridge
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Kirkland, WA to Forks, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Bremerton along the way.
Bremerton
41.2 mi in|~54m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
East Lauridsen Boulevard
55.4 mi
1h 21m
Olympic Highway
34.7 mi
51m
WA 16
28.3 mi
36m
State Highway 3 Northwest
23.3 mi
31m
I 5
21.6 mi
27m
I 405
17.8 mi
22m
State Route 104
13.8 mi
17m
Hood Canal Floating Bridge
1.5 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
East Lauridsen Boulevard
— 55.4 mi, about 1h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kirkland, WA and Forks, WA.
1
Start on 1st Street
399 ft·16 sec·1st Street
2
Turn left onto 7th Avenue
0.1 mi·16 sec·7th Avenue
3
Continue on 7th Avenue
0.3 mi·52 sec·7th Avenue
4
Continue on 7th Avenue
0.1 mi·20 sec·7th Avenue
5
Turn right onto 6th Street
449 ft·14 sec·6th Street
6
Turn left onto Northeast 85th Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Northeast 85th Street
7
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward I 405 South: RentonUse the right lane.
8
Merge onto I 405
18 mi·22 min·I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·48 sec
Toward I 5 South: PortlandUse the straight / right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 5
20 mi·25 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
1.3 mi·1 min·I 5
12
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 132BToward WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, BremertonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·45 sec
Toward WA 16 West: Union AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto WA 16
28 mi·36 min·WA 16
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on WA 3
23 mi·31 min·State Highway 3 Northwest
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn left onto WA 104
0.1 mi·13 sec·Hood Canal Bridge
Use the left lane.
17
Continue on WA 104
1.5 mi·2 min·Hood Canal Floating Bridge
18
Continue on WA 104
0.2 mi·16 sec·State Route 104
19
Enter roundabout onto WA 104
117 ft·1 sec·State Route 104
20
Continue on WA 104
4.9 mi·6 min·State Route 104
21
Enter roundabout onto WA 104
142 ft·1 sec·State Route 104
22
Continue on WA 104
8.7 mi·10 min·State Route 104
23
Keep slight right at fork onto WA 104
0.4 mi·29 sec·State Highway 104
24
Merge onto US 101
35 mi·51 min·Olympic Highway
25
Take the exit onto US 101
392 ft·11 sec·East Front Street
26
Merge onto US 101
0.9 mi·2 min·East Front Street
27
Turn left onto North Race Street
0.7 mi·1 min·North Race Street
28
Turn right onto Lauridsen Boulevard
0.8 mi·2 min·Lauridsen Boulevard
29
At end of road, turn left onto US 101
55 mi·1 hr 21 min·East Lauridsen Boulevard
30
Arrive at destination
US 101
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 101.1 miles from Kirkland, WA, or about 2h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.4 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 44 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 101.1 miles or 2h 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Forks, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Kirkland, WA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Kirkland, WA
This is one driving day of about 202.2 miles and 4h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Kirkland, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on East Lauridsen Boulevard for about 55.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 101.1 mi from Kirkland, WA
· 2h 14m into the drive
The midpoint is around 101.1 miles from Kirkland, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Forks, WA
The final approach into Forks, WA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Forks, WA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Seattle flourished during and after the Klondike Gold Rush. Merchants supplied people from around the world passing through this port city on their way to a remarkable adventure in the Yukon Territory...
With its incredible range of precipitation and elevation, diversity is the hallmark of Olympic National Park. Encompassing nearly a million acres, the park protects a vast wilderness, thousands of yea...
18 mi from route
~46 min detour
$30
near mile 167.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.32 one way
$84.64 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg71 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$44.38
$88.76
premium
$5.77
$45.92
$91.83
diesel
$5.61
$44.64
$89.29
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.7
0
$21.23
$9.71
Efficient EV
50.6
0
$17.69
$8.09
EV Truck/SUV
80.9
1
$28.31
$12.94
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Kirkland, WA
Night
in Kirkland on Friday
Local time
9:42 PM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Forks, WA
Night
in Forks on Friday
Local time
9:42 PM
PDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
4 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 43m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Kirkland, WA to Forks, WA covers 202.2 miles and takes about 4h 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Lauridsen Boulevard, Olympic Highway, WA 16. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 101.1 miles from Kirkland, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $42.32 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 202.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (7th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 19.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Kirkland, WA to Forks, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Bremerton along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park and Olympic National Park.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
